Tennis News

Former World No.11 Shahar Peer, 29, officially announced her retirement on Tuesday. Peer retires as the most successful Israeli woman to ever play on the WTA.

“I want to share with you one of the hardest decisions I have had to make in my life,” Peer wrote on Facebook. “After 23 years, in which 13 of those years I was an international professional tennis player, I am retiring 🙂

“I made this decision following a chronic inflammation in my shoulder, that has been lasting for over two years, and prevents me from competing at the high level that I am used to and expect from myself. At the same time, I lost my desire for the game of tennis and the intense way of life I have lived since I was 6.5 years old.

“I look back on this experience with a huge smile, a lot of happiness and satisfaction. I am proud of all of my accomplishments as well as the huge honor I was given to represent the state of Israel.

“I want to thank everyone for your never-ending support that I received every single day, every hour and every place I went to around the world. This Friday, ‘Ulpan Shishi’ on Channel 2 will broadcast a segment about my career, my deliberation about my retirement, and my plans for the future. I promise to continue to update you about every interesting development of Chapter 2 of my life.”

After turning pro in 2004, Peer won five WTA titles and became the first Israeli woman to make the quarterfinals of a Slam, doing it twice in 2007. In 2008, she became the first Israeli ever to compete at a WTA tournament in the Arabian Peninsula at the Qatar Total Open.

In addition to her successful WTA career, Peer was a Fed Cup stalwart for Israel, playing over 75 matches and compiling at 45-31 record. In 2008 she represented Israel at her first and only Olympic Games in Beijing.

Peer had not played a match on tour since the 2016 Abierto Monterrey, where she lost in the opening round of qualifying to Viktorija Golubic.

There’s more to play for at this year’s French Open than just the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen. With the Rio Olympics less than 80 days away, this year’s French Open also serves as the last chance for players to earn ranking points to shore up their Olympic qualifying prospects. The ITF will use the singles and doubles rankings as of the Monday after the French Open to determine who’s in and who’s out. For the players who are still on the bubble, that adds a completely different set of pressures in Paris.

Ranking is just one element of the qualifying process. A player must also be in good standing with her federation and, fulfilled her Fed Cup responsibilities. The Top 56 eligible players will qualify for Rio, with a maximum of four singles players from a single country. Read more about the qualifying rules here.

On the bubble for Olympic qualification…

Below qualification line…

*outside country’s Top 4

Britain’s Heather Watson said she can’t stop thinking about the qualifying process. Currently ranked at No.54, Watson has been on cusp of the Top 56 for a few weeks but with so many points on offer in Paris, the threat of being overtaken in the rankings is real.

“I’m borderline and I need to move 10 more places and I’m in for sure,” Watson told WTA Insider. “I didn’t have a great clay court season last year so I’m hoping to make the most of the next couple of weeks.”

Speaking at the Mutua Madrid Open earlier this month, Watson said every match looms large. “Last night I slept terrible because I’m just thinking about the match,” she said. “Because in my mind it’s not just about this match to move into the next round. It’s a lot more on it right now.”

For Daria Gavrilova, the qualifying process is completely out of her hands. The 22-year-old Australian is in the midst of her best season so far but her recent change in citizenship from Russia to Australia has complicated her eligibility status and as of now, she will not qualify unless the ITF rules in her favor on her appeal.

“I really want to play,” Gavrilova said. “I really do. So I would be very disappointed. I’ll probably cry.”

Ranked No.45, Gavrilova has put together a strong clay season after making the Round of 16 at the Australian Open, and could play the role of spoiler when the tournament begins in Paris. She’s trying not to let the Olympics weigh on her.

“I don’t think about it a lot because it’s not up to me,” she said. “I’m just waiting for the decision. I can’t do anything about it.”

Elena Vesnina has the dual task of trying to qualify for both singles and doubles. Currently ranked No.47, Vesnina is well inside the cut-off thanks to her run to the Charleston final last month, but she’s currently the No.6 Russian. Only the top four Russians will qualify for the singles event. With Maria Sharapova’s Olympic participation in doubt, Vesnina is in the position of trying to chase down No.32 Daria Kasatkina to earn a singles berth.

“I’m not trying to think about it,” Vesnina said. “You cannot control everything. It’s going to be too much in your head.

“First of all you have to think about your singles game and your results there. For doubles you have to play match by match. What’s going to happen, you don’t know because there are really good teams right now and everyone is looking at the Olympics. You see a lot of teams pairing from the same country. That’s why it’s going to be very exciting.”

Vesnina is a two-time Olympic veteran, having competed in doubles in Beijing and London. She said the predominant Olympic chatter in the locker room is from players trying to figure out their best doubles options. In her case, despite playing with Kasatkina for most of the last six months, she’s repaired with Ekaterina Makarova to prepare for Rio. 

“We played together for four years. We don’t need to waste our team spirit. It’s always great to play with someone new like Dasha, but it’s not enough time. I’m still learning with Dasha what she’s doing in doubles. She’s still a young kid and she’s improving. Maybe later I’m going to play with her.”

Vesnina and Makarova have Olympic experience as well, having made the quarterfinals in London. Just last week they made the final in Rome.

“I think from the last Olympics I know a little bit what the numbers were,” Vesnina said, referring to the doubles cut-off, which looks at the combined ranking (singles or doubles) of the players. “I’m pretty sure the [combined ranking cut] has to be inside the Top 60. In London it was around 56. Both of you have to be Top 20, Top 25.”

For her part, Kasatkina hasn’t had the clay season she would have wanted so far, winning just one match on European clay. That has opened the door for Vesnina to make a move in Paris, but the youngster is more concerned with the state of her game than the Olympics.

“For sure to play Olympics would be big,” Kasatkina said. “But I’m just 19. If I play it’s perfect. But if not, I will hopefully have a few Olympics. I am focused on the tournaments and my game. If I play good these tournaments on clay it’s good and I will get in. If no, not a big problem.”

Like the Russians, the Americans also find themselves with an incredible amount of depth. As the clay season began, all eyes were on who would get that fourth Olympic spot and it appeared to be coming down to Madison Keys and CoCo Vandeweghe, with Keys trying to hold off her compatriot. With her run to the final in Rome, Keys has virtually secured her spot on the team, leaping ahead of Sloane Stephens to be the No.3 American at No.17.

“I feel like it’s just added pressure,” Keys said.

That the Olympics are even happening this summer still escapes her sometimes and she’s done well not to think about it.

“Obviously I really want to play and it would mean so much to me. But at the same time I feel like if I’m sitting there counting points I’m just going to freak out. As my Grandpa says, ‘everything happens for a reason,’ so I’m just going to go for that.”

A quarterfinalist in London four years ago, Germany’s Sabine Lisicki finds herself on the outside looking in as she heads to Paris. Ranked No.50, the 26-year-old looked like a lock for the Olympics when the season began, but she’s since been passed by Stuttgart finalist Laura Siegemund and Anna-Lena Friedsam. Annika Beck currently holds the fourth German spot at No.42.

Lisicki said her goal throughout her life has been to win a Slam, not the Olympics. Like most players, she has a fatalistic approach to her Olympic chances.

“I love to represent my country. I love to fight for my country. I’ve always loved it. I love playing at the Olympics at London. As soon as I found out it was going to be in Rio I really wanted to play. I can only do my best on court. I really want to go there.

“But I can’t start thinking too much about it because then it starts to hinder you. It was a tough time with injury. It’s bad timing in a way but if it’s not meant to happen so be it. I’ll probably have a chance in four years. I’m thinking bigger picture now than just the Olympics. My goal is still to win a Grand Slam. Nothing will change about that if I go to the Olympics or not.”

Roberta Vinci agreed. The Olympics hold a different place in tennis’ pecking order. “Probably if you think one big tournament in tennis you think Wimbledon, Roland Garros. Not the Olympics. If you want to swim, the Olympics is unbelievable. But of course, the Olympics is still fun. I hope to win a medal.”

Set to play in her last Olympic games, Vinci is a three-time Olympic veteran, having played her first Olympic games in Athens in 2004. For her, the Olympics have rarely felt like anything other than another tournament.

“If you think about the Olympic games you think ‘Oh, wow, the Olympics!'” she said. “But when I played in London, Beijing, and Athens – I played already three times – they are so quick. You go, you stay, yeah if you see the opening ceremony it’s nice. But in London I played Kim Clijsters first match at 11am. The day before was the opening ceremony and I [didn’t go.] So for me it was like another tournament.”

“The Federation booked an apartment near Wimbledon. It was not a ‘real’ Olympics. It was like a Fed Cup. So I hope this time it will be a little different. But right now if I think about the Olympics…I don’t know. We’ll see.”

All photos courtesy of Getty Images.

Monica Seles Hosts Kids Clinic In Budapest

Former World No.1 Monica Seles arrived in Budapest for the Hungarian Day of Tennis, which celebrates the past, present and future of Hungarian tennis, and hosted a kids’ clinic alongside other Hungarian former players.

“It’s been fantastic to be invited by the Hungarian Tennis Federation to be a part of the WTA tournament here in Budapest, and also to participate in the Hungarian Day of Tennis kid’s clinic,” Seles told wtatennis.com.

“I hope we can spread the love of tennis and inspire a lot of young kids to pick up a racquet, and hopefully one day see them on center court.”

Budapest Champion Timea Babos & Monica Seles Auction Signed Racquets

Timea Babos captured the title in front of her home crowd in Budapest at the Hungarian Ladies Open, and she’s also helping to give back to her community.

Babos and Seles have donated autographed tennis racquets – the same racquets they played with this past week – which will be put on auction for two weeks after the tournament. All proceeds will benefit the Ronald McDonald House, the tournament’s charity of choice.

“I think it’s wonderful that the WTA tournament here in Budapest has a charitable side,” Seles told wtatennis.com. “And it’s great that the WTA has started a charitable foundation – I think it’s so important to give back.

“We in sport are very lucky to do what we love and make a living out of it, and anytime that we’re able to give back, it’s a huge honor and happiness in my heart.”

Johanna Larsson & Chan Yung-Jan Host Clinics In Dubai

Over in Dubai, Johanna Larsson and Chan Yung-Jan (Latisha) hosted a set of children’s and youth clinics to inspire the next generation of tennis hopefuls.

Larsson enjoyed some mini-tennis with children at the JP Morgan Kids Clinic and also had a hit with two promising juniors from the region, while Latisha hosted the Lacoste Special Needs Clinic, which involved children and teenagers who don’t let their disabilities hold them back when it comes to keeping active and enjoying tennis.

Latisha interacted with the children, posing for selfies, signing balls and answering their questions about what life is like as a professional tennis player.

“I always like coming to these clinics as it’s so much fun to make the kids happy and help them enjoy tennis,” she said. “It’s great to put smiles on their faces, and Dubai Duty Free always puts on a great show for the children.”

JP Morgan’s Breakfast With A Champion

Also in Dubai, hosts Mickey Lawler, President of the WTA, and former British No.1 Annabel Croft were joined by former doubles World No.1 Sania Mirza at JP Morgan’s Breakfast With A Champion.

In front of an audience made up of JP Morgan’s female bankers and employees, the event celebrated powerful female role models.

WTA Charities is the WTA’s global philanthropic organization dedicated to making a positive impact across the globe. Our mission is to be a social responsibility vehicle built on the WTA’s values to empower and provide for a better future. We’re dedicated to combining, strengthening and enhancing the community and charitable efforts of the WTA through its members (players, alumnae and tournaments), along with our partners.

Click here to see more WTA Charities activities!

After picking up titles in the Middle East, Karolina Pliskova and Elina Svitolina seem to have all the momentum as the tour heads to Indian Wells and Miami. But how do their performances stack up against the year’s other top performers?

In this edition of WTA Insider Heat Index, Senior Writer Courtney Nguyen weighs in on who’s hot and who’s not after a fortnight in Dubai and Doha.

For more on the Heat Index and the methodology behind it, click here.

1. Serena Williams (Rank: No.1; RTS: No.1; Previous HI: 1)
2017 record: 8-1
Titles: Australian Open (January)
Recent activity: None.
Key Stat: Did not lose a set in Melbourne.

Serena has not played an event since winning her record-setting 23rd major title at the Australian Open in January, but given her propensity for party crashing some public courts, I’m guessing she’s still healthy and in good spirits. That bodes well for the upcoming Sunshine Double swing through Indian Wells and Miami.

2. Karolina Pliskova (Rank: No.3; RTS: No.3; Previous HI: 2)
2017 record: 15-2
Titles: Brisbane International (January), Qatar Total Open (February)
Recent activity: Doha champion.
Key Stat: The first woman to win two titles this season.

The World No.3 has looked virtually unbeatable in 2017. When it comes to quality wins, no one has been better. Two months into the season and Pliskova already has wins over Dominika Cibulkova, Caroline Wozniacki, Garbiñe Muguruza, and Elina Svitolina.

3. Elina Svitolina (Rank: No.10; RTS: No.2; Previous HI: No.8)
2017 Record: 17-2
Titles: Taiwan Open (February), Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships (February)
Recent activity: Taiwan Open champion, Dubai champion.
Key Stat: Currently on a 13-match winning streak since the Australian Open.

This is what we were waiting for. After tallying five career titles on the International level and improving her year-end ranking year over year, Svitolina put it all together in Dubai to win the biggest title of her career and make her Top 10 debut. With her third straight win over Angelique Kerber, she ended the German’s quest to retake the No.1 ranking and followed it up with a cool performance to beat Caroline Wozniacki in the final.

4. Caroline Wozniacki (Rank: No.14; RTS: No. 5; Previous HI: Unranked)
2017 record: 15-5.
Titles: None.
Recent activity: Runner-up in Doha and Dubai.
Key Stat: Wozniacki already has 15 wins this year. Her 15th match win last year came at the US Open in September.

Is Woz back? It sure does seem that way. The Dane made back-to-back finals in February in Doha (l. Pliskova) and Dubai (l. Svitolina) and she’s continued the fantastic run of form that’s kicked in since the start of the US Open last fall. In fact, if you isolate the ranking points earned since the start of the US Open, Wozniacki is at No.3 behind Kerber and Pliskova. Wozniacki has beaten just one Top 10 player so far this season, a win over Agnieszka Radwanska in Doha, but with less than 200 points to defend from no until the US Open, there’s no doubt a return to the Top 10 — Top 5? — is coming soon.

5. Johanna Konta (Rank: No.11; RTS: No.6; Previous HI: No.2)
2017 record: 15-3
Titles: Apia International Sydney (January)
Recent activity: Went 3-1 in Fed Cup (l. to Konjuh)
Key stat: Konta’s win over Radwanska in the Sydney final was her first over a Top 5 player in over a year.

Konta took her good form into Fed Cup and helped earn Great Britain a chance at promotion to the World Group. A foot injury prevented her from making her debut in the Middle East in Dubai, but with plenty of rest before the upcoming hard court swing, Konta should be in good form.

6. Angelique Kerber (Rank: No.2; RTS: No.9; Previous HI: No.6)
2017 record: 7-5
Titles: None
Recent activity: Dubai semifinalist.
Key stat: Kerber is 0-5 vs. Top 35 players.

After a disappointing January, Kerber showed signs of life in Dubai, playing cleaner, more aggressive tennis to make her first semifinal of the year. The quality was a step in the right direction. I still maintain it’s too early to write off the woman who won two hard court Slams last year. Now, if she continues to struggle through March…then it’s time to have the discussion.

7. Dominika Cibulkova (Rank: No.5; RTS: No.5; Previous HI: No.11)
2017 record: 8-6
Titles: None
Recent activity: Doha semifinalist.
Key stat: Made back-to-back semifinals in St. Petersburg and Doha.

The Middle East swing was a mixed bag for Cibulkova. She lost to eventual champion Pliskova in Doha, but in Dubai she was confounded once again by Ekaterina Makarova, who also beat her at the Australian Open. But much like Kerber, the level of tennis she played was an improvement on what we saw in January and she’s put in extra work with her mental coach to help her deal with the expectations of being a Top 5 player. She started to feel like herself again after Doha, and that’s good news for her tennis.

8. Agnieszka Radwanska (Rank: No.6; RTS: No.16; Previous HI: No.5)
2017 record: 7-5
Titles: None
Recent activity: Lost in Round of 16 in Doha (l. Wozniacki) and Dubai (l. Bellis)
Key stat: Has not won back-to-back matches in her last three events.

After solid outings in her first two tournaments of the year, the World No.6 has struggled to find her confidence and feel. Remember, this is a player who made the semifinals or better of her first four events last season. Her inability to solve 17-year-old CiCi Bellis in Dubai was a shocker. She’s frustrated and searching.

9. CoCo Vandeweghe (Rank: No.22; RTS: No.7; Previous HI: No.7)
2017 record: 8-3
Titles: None
Recent activity: Went 2-0 at Fed Cup; first round loss to Alison Riske in Dubai.
Key stat: Vandeweghe beat Kerber and Muguruza at the Australian Open. It was just the second time in her career she’s beaten two Top 10 players at a tournament (2014 Rogers Cup, Ivanovic and Jankovic).

The question for Vandeweghe after the Australian Open wasn’t whether she had Slam-winning tennis inside her — the quality during the Melbourne fortnight was top-notch — but whether she could maintain a consistent level. Indian Wells and Miami should serve as better litmus tests.

10. Kristina Mladenovic (Rank: No.30; RTS: No.14; Previous HI: Unranked)
2017 record: 8-4
Titles: St. Petersburg
Recent activity: Beat Pliskova in Dubai, semifinalist in Acapulco (tournament ongoing).
Key stat: Her win over Pliskova was her first Top 5 win since 2015.

Mladenovic will be the first to tell you her tennis can reach the highest of highs and, at times, head-scratching lows, but it makes her game all the more compelling. After winning her first title in St. Petersburg, Mladenovic scored a big win over Pliskova only to lose to No.76 Wang Qiang in straight sets the next day. Regardless, she’s been consistently dangerous early this season.

11. Garbiñe Muguruza (Rank: No.7; RTS: No.10; Previous HI: No.4)
2017 record: 9-5
Titles: None
Recent activity: Went 1-2 during Middle East swing.
Key stat: Two of her four tournaments this season has ended in a retirement.

The primary reason surrounding Muguruza’s notable drop in the Heat Index is injury related. She picked up a left Achilles injury in Doha, which forced her to retire from a match in Dubai for the second time this season. In January she retired from the Brisbane semifinals due to an abductor injury. It’s a disconcerting trend for the Spaniard, just two months into the season.

12. Venus Williams (Rank: No.13; RTS: No.4; Previous HI: No.10)
2017 record: 7-2
Titles: None
Recent activity: None
Key stat: This time last year, Venus was also 7-2. She lost in the first round of Auckland and the Australian Open before winning seven straight matches at Fed Cup and en route to the Taiwan Open title.

With the surges from Wozniacki and Mladenovic into this edition of the Heat Index, Venus drops two spots. She did not play a tournament in February, so I’m looking forward to seeing how she’s feeling in Indian Wells next week. If it’s anything like what we saw in Melbourne, it will be a treat.

PARIS, France – A brief delay truncated the order of play again on Day 2 of Roland Garros, but the first round got underway in earnest by afternoon; catch up with the biggest storylines as Tuesday’s matches came to a close. 

Aga and Simona roll, Muguruza survives: No one is talking about No.2 seed Agnieszka Radwanksa here in Paris, but she rolled through her opener against Bojana Jovanovski, losing just two games. She’ll have a much trickier task in the second round against Caroline Garcia, who played a sharp match to beat Lesia Tsurenko in straight sets.

Not be outdone on the day, Simona Halep matched Radwanska’s feat, losing two games to Nao Hibino. She plays Zarina Diyas next.

It was a different story for No.4 seed Garbiñe Muguruza, who needed three sets to get past a slumping Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. It was Schmiedlova’s 12th consecutive tour-level loss this year. Muguruza chalked up her slow start to, well, her headphones. The Spaniard didn’t hear her match announced over the loudpseaker and had just 10 minutes to warm up.

“I think I had the music on or something,” she said. “I didn’t really listen when someone talks with the speaker. The supervisor came, and they’re like, We’re waiting for you. I’m like, No way. I start to do running and jumping fast. So I didn’t have the time to really warm up.”

Cagla Buyukackay makes history: Buyukackay became the first Turkish woman in the Open Era to win a match at a Slam, as she rallied to beat Aliaksandra Sasnovich 5-7, 7-6(2), 6-2. You’ll hear more from Cagla on Tuesday.

Heather Watson streaks to a big win: Watson’s first round match against her doubles partner Nicole Gibbs was suspended on Sunday due to rain, with Gibbs serving up a break and a point away from consolidating at 2-1 in the third. On Monday’s resumption, Watson would save that game point and go on to win five straight games to win, 5-7, 6-2, 6-2.

“My first goal was to win that first point, because I knew it was very important. I could have been 3-1 down and just one point,” Watson said. “I actually had a talk with my coach and we talked for five minutes about how we’re going to play that first point. Once I got that, I think I just kind of settled. Especially once that game was done, I started swinging through.”

Currently ranked No.56, the win was a big one for Watson’s Olympic qualifying chances. She’ll play No.13 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova in the second round.

Roberta Vinci’s early exit: The highest seed to fall after the first two days in Paris: No.7 seed Roberta Vinci. The Italian has struggled with her form since the tour turned to clay, her most uncomfortable surface. She left Paris winning just four games against Kateryna Bondarenko.

Tsvetana Pironkova gets a win on clay: When you think of clay, you don’t usually think of Pironkova, a 2010 Wimbledon semifinalist. The Bulgarian, now ranked No.102, thrives on fast, low-bouncing surfaces such as grass and very particular hard courts – remember that Sydney title? – but clay has been a challenge.

On Monday she faced off against one of the best clay courters on tour in former Roland Garros finalist and No.16 seed Sara Errani. The Italian came into Paris struggling, having gone 0-3 on European clay this season, and the lack of form showed. Pironkova rolled to a 6-3, 6-2 upset and will face Johanna Larsson in the second round.

Naomi Osaka continues to impress: The 18-year-old made the third round in her Grand Slam debut in January at the Australian Open. Now she’s into the second round at her French Open debut, beating No.32 seed Jelena Ostapenko 6-4, 7-5. She’ll play Mirjana Lucic-Baroni next.

Osaka admits she’s not adept on the red clay yet, but her game may be perfectly suited for the surface. Like many who grew up playing on green clay, the European red stuff has been a shock. “I was like, Oh, my God,” Osaka said when asked about her first reaction to red clay. “Because last year I didn’t really play red clay. I didn’t play any clay, I think, so technically this year is my first time on red clay.

“Oh, God,” she said, smiling. “I don’t know what I was thinking because it’s completely different…. It’s kind of slow, and then I’m just like, Oh, hardcourt, please. But, I mean, I have to adjust, so I can’t complain about it all the time.”

“I don’t have like a hateful relationship with clay. I used to think I was the queen of grinding and then I was like, Oh, now I have to hit. People that hit powerful do well on clay. They do well on any surface.”

Class of 1997: The young class of 1997 on tour has been a promising one. Belinda Bencic has obviously set the standard of the 18-year-olds, but Jelena Ostapenko, Daria Kasatkina, and Ana Konjuh have also been eying a surge forward. Osaka says there’s no rivalry between the young women. Just sources of motivation.

“They’re kind of doing better than me right now, but I don’t know,” Osaka said. “I am trying to do my own thing and I’m sure they’re trying to do their own thing. We’re all going for different goals that are kind of the same because everyone wants to be No.1 and stuff. I mean, I don’t have any like [ill will] – nothing but love. Like no negative feelings or anything towards anybody.”

Shelby Rogers ‘bolts’ into the second round: Read more about Rogers’ big upset over No.17 seed Karolina Pliskova here.

Serena Williams, Angelique Kerber, and Victoria Azarenka ready for Tuesday: After two rain-addled days in Paris, the forecast looks positive for Tuesday, which means in an ideal world, the first round will conclude as scheduled. World No.1 Serena Williams gets underway against Magdalena Rybarikova, Kerber is on upset watch against Nuremberg champion Kiki Bertens, and Azarenka plays Karin Knapp.

Full order of play here.

Photos courtesy of Getty Images.